This means we can step off of our spin bikes and park it on the couch with a bowlful of Cab Sauv instead, yes? Ah—not so fast. Neil Shay, one of the researchers on the study, notes that this is not an excuse to call red wine a weight loss miracle. (Darn.) "We didn't find, and we didn't expect to, that these compounds would improve body weight," he said. However, the compounds in dark grapes can be particularly helpful for overweight people who suffer from fatty liver, a reversible problem that can cause an array of other complications if left untreated. In the study, two groups of mice were fed the same high-fat diet. One group of mice was also given extracts of Pinot Noir grapes—and this group accumulated less liver fat and had a lower blood sugar over the trial period.

Ultimately, Shay said, the point of his work is to prove that everyday foods can benefit a variety of health conditions. "If you're out food shopping, and if you know a certain kind of fruit is good for a health condition you have, wouldn't you want to buy that fruit?" Or that wine? Yes, we would.